Grand Theft Auto

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Lore & Background

Grand Theft Auto VI is set within the fictional US state of Leonida, based on Florida, which includes Vice City, Grassrivers, and the Leonida Keys (inspired by Miami, the Everglades, and the Florida Keys, respectively), as well as Ambrosia, Mount Kalaga National Park, and Port Gellhorn. The game world parodies 2020s American culture, with satirical depictions of social media and influencer culture, modern law enforcement tactics and technology like police body cameras, and references to Internet memes such as Florida Man. The story follows a criminal couple: Jason Duval, who worked for local drug runners in the Leonida Keys after serving in the Army; and Lucia Caminos, the series's first non-optional female protagonist, who was imprisoned at Leonida Penitentiary after fighting for her family from Liberty City. Following a failed bank heist, the duo encounter a state-wide conspiracy and are forced to protect each other. Other characters include: Cal Hampton, Jason's paranoid friend; Boobie Ike, who runs a business empire in Vice City; Dre'Quan Priest, owner of the record label Only Raw Records with Boobie; Bae-Luxe and Roxy, a musical duo signed to Only Raw under the name Real Dimez; Raul Bautista, a seasoned bank robber; and Brian Heder, a longtime drug runner in the Keys and Jason's landlord.

Reader's Guide

Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to be released on 19 November 2026 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Following years of speculation and anticipation, Rockstar confirmed in February 2022 that the game was in development. That September, footage from unfinished versions was leaked in what journalists described as one of the biggest leaks in the history of the video game industry. Grand Theft Auto VI was formally revealed in December 2023. Following two delays and further leaks, the release date was set. The game's first trailer in December 2023 revealed a 2025 release window for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S. Following March 2024 reports that the game was at risk of delay, Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive said it remained on schedule for late 2025. Employees were doubtful due to the amount of remaining work, and in May 2025, the game was delayed to 26 May 2026. In November 2025, the week after 34 employees were fired, Rockstar delayed the game to 19 November 2026, citing additional polish.

Did You Know?

• Grand Theft Auto VI is the first main Grand Theft Auto game since the 1997 original not to be written by Dan Houser, who left Rockstar in 2020.
• The game's first trailer in December 2023 surpassed the lifetime viewership of Grand Theft Auto V's 2011 reveal trailer within two days, with 101 million views.
• Rockstar engaged more than 50 street artists to design murals for the game, including for in-game locations like Stockyard, based on Miami's Wynwood neighbourhood.
• The game's second trailer, released on 6 May 2025, received a record 475 million views.
• A dedicated research team was based in Miami, meeting with law enforcement, club promoters, former criminals, and gun dealers to research the game's world.

The World of Leonida

Grand Theft Auto VI places players inside a sprawling fictional US state called Leonida, a satirical mirror of Florida. The open world encompasses several distinct regions: Vice City, modeled on Miami; Grassrivers, drawing from the Everglades; the Leonida Keys, inspired by the Florida Keys; plus Ambrosia, Mount Kalaga National Park, and Port Gellhorn. The game's satirical lens targets 2020s American culture specifically—social media and influencer culture get poked at, modern law enforcement tactics like body cameras are referenced, and even Internet memes such as "Florida Man" make the cut. A dedicated research team was based in Miami, organizing field research trips and meeting with "anyone notorious or influential who'll take our calls", including law enforcement, club promoters, former criminals, and gun dealers. The developers cross-referenced their stories with journalism and books to "get to the heart of which characters will bring the city ... to life", according to Jamie-Lee Lloyd, senior art director for characters, "while filtering them through the unique lens of GTA". The writers wanted to approach the city's culture with an open mind and avoid cynicism in character depictions, inserting what writer Michael Wiafe called "a sense of discovery" instead of repeated clichés. The team enjoyed Miami's music, particularly Miami bass and artists like Kodak Black and Sexyy Red. Rockstar engaged more than 50 street artists to design murals for the game, including for in-game locations like Stockyard, based on Miami's Wynwood neighbourhood. Rockstar worked with Miami-based stylist Jillian Carr from 2023 to design a "fashion ecosystem", imitating Miami's nuanced and developing fashion trends; she noted that "Vice City is built around vanity", reflected in the tourism, celebrities, and social media.

A Bonnie and Clyde Story

The narrative centers on a romantic criminal duo: Jason Duval, a former Army soldier who drifted into working for local drug runners in the Leonida Keys, and Lucia Caminos, the series' first non-optional female protagonist, who was imprisoned at Leonida Penitentiary after fighting for her family members from Liberty City. Their dynamic is explicitly inspired by the legendary outlaw couple Bonnie and Clyde, a deliberate shift from earlier entries in the franchise where romantic relationships were largely sidelined, according to Rupert Humphries, Rockstar's senior vice president of narrative. After a failed bank heist, the pair stumble into a state-wide conspiracy that forces them to protect one another. The supporting cast is rich and varied: Cal Hampton, Jason's paranoid friend; Boobie Ike, who commands a business empire in Vice City; Dre'Quan Priest, co-owner of the record label Only Raw Records; the musical duo Bae-Luxe and Roxy, signed to that label as Real Dimez; Raul Bautista, a seasoned bank robber; and Brian Heder, a longtime Keys drug runner who also happens to be Jason's landlord. Characters were written to ensure the protagonists could experience all levels of Vice City's parties, based on Miami's hip-hop scene, from house parties and local bars to high-end clubs.

A Decade in the Making

Preliminary work on Grand Theft Auto VI began as early as 2014 after Grand Theft Auto V's release, with early development starting in late 2018 following Red Dead Redemption 2. Principal production, code-named Project Americas, started in 2020. Rockstar's worldwide development teams more than doubled since Red Dead Redemption 2's release. In 2022, resources were reallocated from Red Dead Online and planned remasters to prioritise development. Rumours and analysts suggested the budget surpassed US$1–2 billion, which would make it the most expensive game ever developed, though the figure remains unverified. The game is expected to use the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine. Notably, it is the first main Grand Theft Auto game since the 1997 original (and the first overall since 2004's Advance) not to be written by Dan Houser, who left Rockstar in 2020. The team consciously avoided their standard crunch practices and cautiously subverted the series's trend of joking about marginalised groups.

Leaks, Delays, and Labor Tensions

Grand Theft Auto VI has been shrouded in a storm of leaks and controversy. After years of speculation, Rockstar confirmed development was "well underway" on 4 February 2022. Just that September, footage from unfinished versions leaked online in what journalists called one of the biggest leaks in the history of the video game industry. The game was formally revealed in December 2023. Following two delays and additional leaks, the release is now scheduled for 19 November 2026 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The production environment has been tense: in April 2024, Rockstar requested employees cease remote work and return to offices "for productivity and security" as the release date neared. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) criticised Rockstar for contradicting promises to maintain flexible working conditions; employees were concerned that impacts to health and morale could prompt resignations and crunch, especially as managers still maintained flexibility. In October 2025, Rockstar fired 34 employees, citing public discussion and distribution of confidential information. The IWGB accused Rockstar of union busting, stating the employees were attempting to unionise with labour organisers.